To be fair to the RAFM – I guess the list reflects cockpit access to those without ‘hot’ instruments.
Halycon, you maybe able to access that area if you write a nice letter to them with your connection. Worth a stamp.

I had a Curtiss FB (H12) that had similar ‘cracking’ it was actually mostly smoke residue (it was in a pub in Philly for 50+ years). I used white spirit and it came off beautifully. I then used french polish to revamp it. You can use teak oil. Just be careful with steel wool.

Oh dear Ian! Sometimes one would wish colleagues kept things to themselves. One of mine mentioned several spitfire canopies they had dumped!

So many treasures must end up in landfill. I acquired loads of stuff a few years ago from a wartime pilot’s family….they had been resting between trips to the tip with a cup of coffee and saw my plea for stuff. The ‘dregs’ were good – I really did not want to know what had already gone. The year before last, a museum volunteer had seen a skip outsdie a house and looked in to see the log books, medals oand isignia of a Polish fighter pilot. He asked if he could have them.

Very likely it has shrunk with time and immersion. Aircraft tyres do dry out and get brittle. The ECTA type (electrically conducting) have lots of lovely carbon dust in them – many a time I have ended up covered in the stuff.
My Hampden tailwheel needs constant turning to stop it drooping (oooh errr missus!)
Nice outcome for it to be saved.
My Ju88 wheel came off a Norfolk beach. The wheel fork ‘sacrificed’ (anode) itself for the benefit of the hub which is in remarkably good condition

Also fitted to early meteors. Very nice grip indeed. Interesting modifications. I acquired a grip (not this type) that had been modded for ground use. For familiarity or drills or something. This one is interesting given the top steel fitting and non standard gun button wiring. Would clean up well and be easy to make ‘nice’ again!

Not doing a Rotorbuggy?!!!!!

There are also countless little restorations going on in smaller museums and in the odd shed and workshop. Will get some idea of the smaller stuff at events like CockpitFest.
Spare a thought for the amateur restorers in freezing hangars!